Category Archives: Series

Better Days: Spencer Beach Park building

An old building at Spencer Beach Park, Hawaii

This building at Spencer Beach Park is typical of how structures were built here in days gone by. A post and pier foundation raised it off the ground, keeping it relatively free from ground crawling bugs and improving air circulation around and into the building. Single board walls and single pane windows were the norm – not much need for insulation here. And it’s all topped by a corrugated iron roof.

This one has fallen into disrepair however, though it’s possible it’s still used for storage of some kind. Time, or a big storm, are likely to end even that option.

Signs: Corona

One of the many neon signs at the Harbor House Restaurant located at Honokohau Marina just north of Kailua Kona.

Posted in response to Becky’s July Squares challenge theme of ‘Trees.’ See more responses here.

Abstracts: Lichens and moss

I liked the colors and shapes of the lichens and moss on the rocky face of a road cutting outside Hawi.

Signs: Ala Kahakai Trail

The Ala Kahakai Trail sign at Kohanaiki In Hawaii

The Ala Kahakai Trail, which used to run from the northern tip of the island to the south-eastern tip, can be followed for a good stretch of the South Kohala Coast. The part south of Kohanaiki Beach Park is well marked and signed. That’s not the case in many other places.

Abstracts: Mackerel scad

Mackeral scad swim above white sand in Hawaii

A school of mackerel scad, known here as ‘Ōpelu, swim over a patch of sandy ocean floor.

Better Days: Engine and propeller

The engine, prop shaft and propellor of the SS Kauai, which sank off Hawaii in 1913

The engine, prop shaft, and propeller of the SS Kauai, an old wooden steamship, that sank in 1913. Now it’s home to a variety of fish and is a moderately popular dive site.

Abstracts: Shadows on a wall

Plant shadows on a brightly colored wall

I posted a photo of this wall for Becky’s Squares in April, but I liked this close up of the shadows of the plants against the bright colors of the wall.

Signs: Bamboo Restaurant

This is one of the signs outside the Bamboo Restaurant in downtown Hawi. While some local restaurants had been offering take-out food, the Bamboo had remained closed during the pandemic. It’s not really geared to be a take-out restaurant and a lot of its business comes from visitors to the island. But about a month ago, the restaurant reopened with restricted hours.

The number of visitors to the island has increased to such an extent that there’s a shortage of rental cars available. When things shut down, the rental car companies shipped vehicles to the mainland for sale, rather than have them depreciate in their parking lots. But the rapidly increasing visitor numbers have caught them out and it sounds like it will be a while before they’re able to get their fleets back to their usual levels.

In the meantime, the reopening of the Bamboo is another encouraging sign that things could be getting back to normal around here.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii